Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine comprises a housing and a resistive force apparatus. The housing has a cavity therein and a plurality of exterior faces. The resistive force apparatus is attached to the housing within the cavity. The resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of flexible tension members each having an end accessible at one of said exterior faces of the housing. Each one of the flexible tension members is movable between a respective retracted position and a respective extended position with respect to the housing. Each one of the flexible tension members is biased to its respective retracted position.

1 . An exercise machine, comprising: 
 a housing having a plurality of exterior faces; and    a resistive force apparatus attached to the housing, wherein the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of flexible tension members each having an end accessible at one of said exterior faces of the housing, wherein each one of said flexible tension members is movable between a respective retracted position and a respective extended position with respect to the housing and wherein each one of said flexible tension members is biased to its respective retracted position.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said flexible tension members has a first end thereof and a second end thereof each accessible at at least one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise machine of  claim 2  wherein the first end is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and the second end is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members enables a corresponding one of said flexible tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said flexible tension members.    
   
   
       5 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of guide member assemblies attached to the housing; and    each one of said guide member assemblies has at least one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       6 . The exercise machine of  claim 5  wherein: 
 at least one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    each one of said stacked guide members has at least one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound    
   
   
       7 . The exercise machine of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise machine of  claim 5  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members is resilient, whereby elongation of one of said flexible tension members results in a respective resistive force being generated by said one of said flexible tension members; and    a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation.    
   
   
       9 . The exercise machine of  claim 8  wherein a first one of said flexible tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said flexible tension members, whereby the first one of said flexible tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said flexible tension members for a given degree of elongation.  
   
   
       10 . The exercise machine of  claim 9  wherein a first end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       11 . The exercise machine of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise machine of  claim 7  wherein each one of said flexible tension members engage a same set of said guide member assemblies.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise machine of  claim 12  wherein: 
 each one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    each one of said stacked guide members has each one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       14 . The exercise machine of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       15 . The exercise machine of  claim 7  wherein: 
 at least one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    each one of said stacked guide members has at least one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       16 . The exercise machine of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       17 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members is resilient, whereby elongation of one of said flexible tension members results in a respective resistive force being generated by said one of said flexible tension members; and    a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation.    
   
   
       18 . The exercise machine of  claim 17  wherein a first one of said flexible tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said flexible tension members, whereby the first one of said flexible tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said flexible tension members for a given degree of elongation.  
   
   
       19 . The exercise machine of  claim 18  wherein a first end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       20 . The exercise machine of  claim 17  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members enables a corresponding one of said flexible tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said flexible tension members.    
   
   
       21 . The exercise machine of  claim 17  wherein a first end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       22 . The exercise machine of  claim 17  wherein each one of said flexible tension members engage a same set of said guide member assemblies.  
   
   
       23 . The exercise machine of  claim 22  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       24 . The exercise machine of  claim 22  wherein: 
 each one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    each one of said stacked guide members has each one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       25 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein the resistive force apparatus includes one of a weighted flywheel arrangement, a frictional force arrangement and a spring arrangement, which is coupled to one of said flexible tension members for imparting a resistive force thereon.  
   
   
       26 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for promoting translation of the housing with respect to a supporting exercise surface.    
   
   
       27 . The exercise machine of  claim 26  wherein said means for promoting translation includes at least one of a wheel, a roller and a friction reducing slider member.  
   
   
       28 . The exercise machine of  claim 26  wherein: 
 the housing has a plurality of corners;    said means for promoting translation includes a plurality of wheels attached to the housing; and    at least one of said wheels is attached to the housing proximate a respective one of said corners of the housing.    
   
   
       29 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an accessory pad configured for being detachably mounted on the housing.    
   
   
       30 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an accessory pad including a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is joined to the second section by a flexible link, whereby the first section and the second section are positionable on a supporting exercise surface at various distances from each with the flexible link defining a maximum separation distance therebetween.    
   
   
       31 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a support pad exposed at one of said exterior faces of the housing, thereby defining a corresponding support surface;    an accessory pad at least one of being configured for being detachably mounted on the housing and having a plurality of linked sections; and    means for promoting translation of the housing with respect to a supporting exercise surface, wherein said means for enabling translation is attached to at least one of said exterior faces; wherein:    each one of said flexible tension members is resilient, whereby elongation of one of said flexible tension members results in a respective resistive force being generated by said one of said flexible tension members;    a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation;    a first one of said flexible tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said flexible tension members, whereby the first one of said flexible tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said flexible tension members for a given degree of elongation;    the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of guide member assemblies attached to the housing;    each one of said guide member assemblies has at least one of said flexible tension members at least partially wrapped therearound;    the accessory pad includes a first section and a second section;    at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members; and    the first section is joined to the second section by a flexible link, whereby the first section and the second section are positionable on a supporting exercise surface at various distances from each with the flexible link defining a maximum separation distance therebetween.    
   
   
       32 . An exercise machine, comprising: 
 a housing having a plurality of exterior faces; and    a resistive force apparatus attached to the housing, wherein the resistive force apparatus includes at least one resilient tension member having an end accessible at one of said exterior faces of the housing and being retractably mounted on the housing, wherein elongation of said at least one resilient tension member results in a respective resistive force being generated by said at least one resilient tension member, and wherein a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation.    
   
   
       33 . The exercise machine of  claim 32  wherein: 
 said at least one resilient tension member extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for said at least one resilient tension member is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for said at least one resilient tension member enables said at least one resilient tension member to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said at least one resilient tension member.    
   
   
       34 . The exercise machine of  claim 32  wherein: 
 the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of guide member assemblies attached to the housing; and    said at least one resilient tension member is at least partially wrapped around at least a portion of said guide member assemblies.    
   
   
       35 . The exercise machine of  claim 34  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       36 . The exercise machine of  claim 34  wherein: 
 at least one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    said at least one resilient tension member is at least partially wrapped around at least a portion of said stacked guide members.    
   
   
       37 . The exercise machine of  claim 36  wherein at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members.  
   
   
       38 . The exercise machine of  claim 32  wherein: 
 the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of resilient tension members; and    a first one of said resilient tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said resilient tension members, whereby the first one of said resilient tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said resilient tension members for a given degree of elongation.    
   
   
       39 . The exercise machine of  claim 38  wherein a first end of each one of said resilient tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said resilient tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       40 . The exercise machine of  claim 38  wherein: 
 the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of guide member assemblies attached to the housing; and    each one of said guide member assemblies has at least one of said resilient tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       41 . The exercise machine of  claim 40  wherein: 
 at least one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members; and    each one of said stacked guide members has at least one of said resilient tension members at least partially wrapped therearound.    
   
   
       42 . The exercise machine of  claim 38  wherein: 
 each one of said resilient tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said resilient tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said resilient tension members enables a corresponding one of said resilient tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said resilient tension members.    
   
   
       43 . The exercise machine of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 means for promoting translation of the housing with respect to a supporting exercise surface.    
   
   
       44 . The exercise machine of  claim 43  wherein said means for promoting translation includes at least one of a wheel, a roller and a friction reducing slider member.  
   
   
       45 . The exercise machine of  claim 43  wherein: 
 the housing has a plurality of corners;    said means for promoting translation includes a plurality of wheels attached to the housing; and    at least one of said wheels is attached to the housing proximate a respective one of said corners of the housing.    
   
   
       46 . The exercise machine of  claim 32  wherein: 
 a first one of said resilient tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said resilient tension members, whereby the first one of said resilient tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said resilient tension members for a given degree of elongation;    a first end of each one of said resilient tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said resilient tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces;    the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of guide member assemblies attached to the housing;    each one of said guide member assemblies has at least one of said resilient tension members at least partially wrapped therearound;    at least one of said guide member assemblies includes stacked guide members;    each one of said stacked guide members has at least one of said resilient tension members at least partially wrapped therearound;    each one of said resilient tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said resilient tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism;    at least a portion of said guide member assemblies includes rotationally mounted guide members; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said resilient tension members enables a corresponding one of said resilient tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said resilient tension members.    
   
   
       47 . The exercise machine of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 an accessory pad, wherein the housing includes an accessory pad receptacle in an exterior surface thereof and the accessory pad is removably mounted therein.    
   
   
       48 . The exercise machine of  claim 47  wherein the accessory pad receptacle extends through a bottom face of the housing.  
   
   
       49 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 an exercise machine including a housing and a resistive force apparatus attached to the housing, wherein the resistive force apparatus includes a plurality of flexible tension members each accessible at at least one of a plurality of exterior faces of the housing, wherein each one of said flexible tension members is movable between a respective retracted position and a respective extended position with respect to the housing and wherein each one of said flexible tension members is biased to its respective retracted position;    an accessory pad at least one of being configured for being detachably mounted on the housing and having a plurality of linked sections; and    a force application device removably attached to the housing, wherein the force application device is configured for at least one of being gripped by a first one of a user's appendage and being strapped to a second one of the user's appendage.    
   
   
       50 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein the force application device is configured for facilitating carrying of the exercise machine when attached to the housing and for enabling extension of at least one of said flexible tension members when detached from the housing and attached to at least one of said flexible tension members.  
   
   
       51 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein: 
 the housing includes an accessory pad receptacle therein and the accessory pad is positionable within the accessory pad receptacle.    
   
   
       52 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein: 
 the accessory pad includes a first section and a second section; and    the first section is joined to the second section by a flexible link, whereby the first section and the second section are positionable on a supporting exercise surface at various distances from each with the flexible link defining a maximum separation distance therebetween.    
   
   
       53 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members is resilient, whereby elongation of one of said flexible tension members results in a respective resistive force being generated by said one of said flexible tension members; and    a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation.    
   
   
       54 . The exercise system of  claim 53  wherein a first one of said flexible tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said flexible tension members, whereby the first one of said flexible tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said flexible tension members for a given degree of elongation.  
   
   
       55 . The exercise system of  claim 54  wherein a first end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a first one of said exterior faces and a second end of each one of said flexible tension members is accessible at a second one of said exterior faces.  
   
   
       56 . The exercise system of  claim 53  wherein: 
 each one of said flexible tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism; and    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members enables a corresponding one of said flexible tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said flexible tension members.    
   
   
       57 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein the resistive force apparatus includes one of a weighted flywheel arrangement, a frictional force arrangement and a spring arrangement, which is coupled to one of said flexible tension members for imparting a resistive force thereon.  
   
   
       58 . The exercise system of  claim 49  wherein: 
 the force application device is configured for facilitating carrying of the exercise machine when attached to the housing and for enabling extension of at least one of said flexible tension members when detached from the housing and attached to at least one of said flexible tension members;    each one of said flexible tension members is resilient, whereby elongation of one of said flexible tension members results in a respective resistive force being generated by said one of said flexible tension members;    a magnitude of said respective resistive force is dependent upon a magnitude of said elongation;    a first one of said flexible tension members exhibits a different level of resilience than a second one of said flexible tension members, whereby the first one of said flexible tension members produces a respective resistive force different than a respective resistive force of the second one of said flexible tension members for a given degree of elongation;    each one of said flexible tension members extends through a respective friction reducing mechanism mounted on the housing;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members is spaced apart from each other respective friction reducing mechanism;    the respective friction reducing mechanism for each one of said flexible tension members enables a corresponding one of said flexible tension members to be extended in a plurality of different orientations with limited friction and wear of said flexible tension members;    the accessory pad includes a first section and a second section; and    the first section is joined to the second section by a flexible link, whereby the first section and the second section are positionable on a supporting exercise surface at various distances from each with the flexible link defining a maximum separation distance therebetween.